Brunswick Corporation

Randall J Poirier

Wayne M Jaszewski

Darin C Uppgard

Jeremy L Alby

Kerry J Treinen

John O Scherer, Iii

David J Waldvogel

Stephen R Collins

John A Tuchscherer

Kevin M Moore

Matthew W Jaeger

Steven J Amerling

Jeremy J Kraus

Jason F Pugh

Joseph S VanSelous

Jiri Jager

Derek J Fletcher

Karel Fortl

Thomas S Lonnborg

Robert A Podell

James E Erickson

Timothy S Reid

Andres Perdomo Tornbaum

Neil A Rothe

Gary C Plonske

Richard A Davis

Steven J Gonring

Charles H Eichinger

Michael A Karls

Travis J Vaninetti

Robert B Weronke

Matthew Z Seta

Andrew Tuchscherer

Donald F Harry

Brad J Van Ruiswyk

Mitesh B Sheth

Jeffrey A Zarembka

Robert W Stuber

Daniel J Schlagenhaft

Douglas A Kiesling

Peter Pickett

A stern drive is for propelling a marine vessel in water. The stern drive has an upper drive unit with a lower mounting surface; a lower gearcase coupled to the lower mounting surface and a trailing end surface that is angled relative to the lower mounting surface; and a propeller shaft extending forwardly from the lower gearcase and being configured to rotate a propeller for pulling the marine vessel in the water. The upper drive unit and the lower gearcase are configured such that when a forward side of the lower gearcase impacts an underwater obstruction, the lower gearcase is caused to pivot relative to the upper drive unit until the trailing end surface impacts the lower mounting surface, which thereby causes the lower gearcase to completely uncouple from the upper drive unit.

Stern drives having breakaway lower gearcase

A marine drive comprising a powerhead that causes rotation of a driveshaft, a gearcase that supports a propulsor for propelling the marine drive in a body of water, a steering housing disposed between the powerhead and the gearcase, wherein the driveshaft or an extension thereof extends through the steering housing is operatively coupled to the propulsor, and a steering mechanism configured to steer the gearcase about a steering axis relative to the steering housing. The gearcase and steering housing are connected at a steering joint through which at least one of cooling water from the body of water is conveyed to the powerhead throughout steering movement of the gearcase and exhaust from the powerhead is conveyed to the body of water throughout steering movement of the gearcase.

Marine drives having steerable gearcase

Stern drive

An outboard motor has a powerhead that causes rotation of a driveshaft, a steering housing located below the powerhead, wherein the driveshaft extends from the powerhead into the steering housing; and a lower gearcase located below the steering housing and supporting a propeller shaft that is coupled to the driveshaft so that rotation of the driveshaft causes rotation of the propeller shaft. The lower gearcase is steerable about a steering axis with respect to the steering housing and powerhead.

Outboard motors having steerable lower gearcase

A device for coupling a propulsor to a marine vessel. A rail is configured for attachment to the marine vessel. A carriage is moveable relative to the rail into first and second positions. A shaft has a first end pivotally coupled to the marine vessel and a second end for coupling to the propulsor. An actuator is configured to pivot the shaft relative to the marine vessel to thereby move the propulsor into and between stowed and deployed positions. A lock is manually operable to fix the carriage in the first position in which the actuator prevents manual pivoting of the shaft and alternatively in the second position in which the shaft is permitted to be manually pivoted.

Devices and methods for coupling propulsion devices to marine vessels

A propulsion device for a marine vessel. The propulsion device includes a base configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position. A lock device has a rigid member and is selectively engageable such that the rigid member prevents the propulsor from pivoting away from the stowed position.

Propulsion devices with lock devices and methods of making propulsion devices with lock devices for marine vessels

A propulsion device for a marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A shaft includes an upper segment and a lower segment each extending along a length axis, wherein the upper segment is coupled to the base. A propulsor is coupled to the lower segment, where the propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water. A shock absorber includes a resilient member that resiliently couples the upper segment and the lower segment together, where the resilient member dampens impact forces received at the lower segment and reduces transfer of the impact forces to the upper segment.

Marine propulsion device and methods of making marine propulsion device having impact protection

A lower unit for a marine propulsion device includes a gearcase housing defined along a longitudinal center axis between a fore end and an aft end. A propulsor shaft extends through the gearcase housing along the longitudinal axis. A driveshaft extends non-parallel to the propulsor shaft and rotates in a direction of rotation when powered by an engine. The driveshaft is coupled in torque-transmitting relationship with the propulsor shaft. A skeg projects from a bottom surface of the gearcase housing proximate at least the aft end thereof. The skeg or the gearcase housing is cambered such that a moment acting in a direction opposite the driveshaft's direction of rotation is induced on the skeg or the gearcase housing as the lower unit moves through water. A marine propulsion device is also disclosed.

Marine propulsion device and lower unit therefor

Transmission systems and methods are for a marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine that drives a propulsor. An input shaft is driven into rotation at a non-zero first rotational speed by the internal combustion engine. An output shaft drives the propulsor into rotation at a non-zero second rotational speed. A planetary gearset transfers power from the input shaft to the output shaft. A band brake is on the planetary gearset. Actuation of the band brake effects a gear change in the planetary gearset. A band brake actuator actuates the band brake to effect the gear change. A controller controls the band brake actuator. Based upon one or more operational characteristics of the marine propulsion device the controller is programmed to control the band brake actuator so that the second rotational speed is less than the first rotational speed.

Systems and methods for controlling planetary transmission arrangements for marine propulsion devices

Growing community of inventors

Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

Randall J Poirier